Page 126 of Enchanted Kisses
“There are things about you I feel I know…like that.” He pointed at the hair pinched in my fingers. “It’s familiar, but it can’t be.”
Frozen in place, I met his dull yet curious gaze. Out here in the morning light, he didn’t look quite as pale. A gold sheen glinted just below the surface of his skin.
“If you knew the truth, you’d hate me,” I whispered.
His sleeve caught my gaze. A burn hole the size of a golf ball revealed blistered flesh.
“I’m so sorry. I’ve never done that before, to anyone.” I reached out to touch him.
He drew his arm away.
It was like a knife to my shriveled heart.
“If you let me, I’ll heal it for you.” I wouldn’t touch him again without his permission.
“How?”
I shrugged and pushed my hair behind my shoulder. “It’s what I do.”
Caiden’s eyes focused on my bare shoulder. His stare trailed across my collarbone, to my neck, and up to my lips. “Raysa wants me to do something, but Bianca will kill me if she finds out.”
Watching him stare at my mouth was agonizing and wonderful at the same time. My lips parted with a soft breath. “Thatwouldbe bad, because I gave up everything to keep you alive.”
“Do you care for me?” He stared deep into my eyes, as if the answer were hidden in them.
If only you knew.
“Bianca doesn’t like you around,” he said, then he gave a slight grin. “I’m used to girls being fascinated with me, but I assure you, it’s nothing more than a crush. If you truly knew me, you wouldn’t think I’m that great. I doubt you’d have any problems finding someone far better than me.”
I lowered my head and sighed. A breeze sent wisps of my hair across my cheek.
Caiden pushed the stray curls aside, his fingers grazing my skin. Unexpectedly, he leaned in and kissed me.
The gentle force of his lips lifted my head and pushed me back slightly. He followed, keeping his lips with mine, and rested his hands on my legs. His kiss, so soft and warm, drew heat to my heart, as if it were coming back to life.
He pulled away, ending the kiss as abruptly as it had started.
I was breathless, dizzy, confused.
He seemed fine. “Sorry. Raysa asked me—no, insisted—to kiss you.” He grinned and stared at my mouth. “With lips like those, I’m sure you’ll bewitch whomever you choose. Just not me. It can’t be me.”
He stood.
I did too, even though my legs felt weak.
I turned away and stared at a cluster of roses. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t think a kiss would upset you. Raysa thought it—I don’t exactly know what she thought. Just promise you won’t tell anyone. Bianca and I are reciting the Vow of Keeps tonight, and this would hurt her. I don’t want anything interfering with our plans.”
The world spun violently around me. I staggered to the bench and dropped onto it, my back to Caiden.
“Bianca and I—”
“Shh.” I cut him off. “I don’t want to hear it.”
I cupped my ears, my heart breaking into a million pieces. This wasn’t right. If only I could smack him until he came to his senses—until he remembered me.
“Please leave and send Raysa to me.” If I tried to move, I’d probably collapse. I waited until the gate squeaked and then released a flood of tears and chanted to myself, “It’s all a bad dream. A nightmare and it’s time to wake up. Everything will go back to the way it was before. It’s a dream. Just a dream.”
